It’s spring in the midwest and the city streets are buzzing with lunch time denizens snatching pizza slices, the “free comic book day” sign still hangs from a bright blue brick building. My headphones are are blocking most of outside world, I am spirited away to some other place, some other time. It’s not here, but it is nearby. South Division Avenue.

Seventeen years in the past, Tim wanted a quarter but we gave him a some cash and told him to come back at the end of the night to help us cleanup, he was always came back. If you were embedded in DIY culture from 2007-2012, this was your spot. It’s important to set the scene. Today I’m reviewing the latest release, “The Weight of Rain,” by Ontario’s Farron Keep.

My own “scene” plays a part in the experience I had while listening to Farron Keep, but it is worth examining the setting for the band and its creation myth. Thunder Bay and its scenic overlook of the majestic Lake Superior is the starting location for Audrey, Paul, and Zac. A local DIY show was the first bonfire on their quest, and the second was reconnecting at New Friends Fest 2023. A year later, August 2024, and Farron Keep had dropped their 2-song EP.

In the here and now, The Weight of Rain is simultaneously playful and poignant. In our discussions about the release Zac waxed about aspects of the writing process, “I love that Paul and I took turns writing guitar & bass parts to set the tone for a song. We also took turns writing lyrics, and in some cases we wrote lines for each other. I think that this flexibility between roles made for a release that captures a lot of different emo styles.” Coupled with Audrey’s drumming and the samples and snippets throughout the release, the audience is left with something rooted in nostalgic familiarity while keeping up with contemporary peers.

Opening track, “The powerful play goes on…” is dreamy, the low end propelling the song forward while the guitar dances about playfully. The opening sample, from Dead Poet’s Society sets the stage & reminds us that art and creation, is perhaps to be regarded above all other noble pursuits. Going in blind, “…and you may contribute a verse” was the track that whisked me away to so long ago, as bands like the Reptilian were a fixture. You can hear the influence of bands like Two Knights and Vs. Self as soon as the second track hits.

Midway through “By Proxy” and we’re greeted with dulcet ambience beneath the repeating guitar, a pained scream in the background, dripping in reverb, the lo-fi hiss of the sample, all weaving together, reminds us that this worthy of repeated listens. “Autoscopy” opens more gently, offering us moments of singing in lieu of the shouted stylings, and something that feels jazzy in a way that reminds of Sharks Keep Moving. It is also the track where, listening in headphones, reminded me to listen with intent, to really hear and feel that subtle production tricks that exist, the fuzzy, lo-fi instrumentation at points, the pleasingly high pitched noise that worms its way in. Faron Keep is a band unafraid to experiment and push boundaries.

Some of this experimentation should be attributed to the unique way the record was written, with parts recorded from home and shared digitally, mixing parts together, smushing things together, and then dissecting the songs and rearranging, slowly building layers, developing this flavor profile over time.

“I THINK IN MANY WAYS WE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS BAND BECAME A VIRTUAL SAFE HAVEN FOR ALL OF US AS WE NAVIGATED THE TRIBULATIONS OF DAILY LIFE. THE LINE ‘I HOPE THE RAIN NEVER STOPS’ AT THE END OF THE ALBUM HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE A CALL TO ENDURE LIFE AND EMBRACE IT DESPITE THE ‘STORM’ THAT PAUL MENTIONS.”

- ZAC @FARRON KEEP

It’s the back half of the record where the band embrace the more emotive side. Though “Divide by Zero” does jump into the mathy riffs that caught your attention in the beginning of the record, it also ends with beautiful singing courtesy of Taylor Jocelyn, which appears to float atop the track. The spoken word ending of the track transitions nicely into “Jin in the Rain.” The infusion of sampled drums is evocative as the vocalists trade back and forth. “I hope that the rain never stops,” the band sings before fading into another sample. I wonder, will I ever get bored of you, Farron Keep?

“The Weight of Rain” was mixed by Audrey and then additional mixing and mastering by Ryan Ulc at Lucky Duck Studios. It was self-released on May 1st, 2025 and is available on Bandcamp and streaming platforms. A small tape run is available from Oliver Glenn Records. The album art is courtesy of Derek Riley.

The band has now congregated in Toronto, Ontario, and we’re excited to see what this new proximity does for them. This move should help them fully realize their quest for more live performances. Beg them to play your city or beg them to be on that split record you always wanted to put out — they just might be open to it. Hit the link and enjoy the bangers y’all, and give Farron Keep a follow.